Bracket construction



Aug. 17, 1948. E. s. BOSTON BRACKET CONSTRUCTION Filed July 12, 1946 INVENTOR. and/d $04 ow Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRACKET CONSTRUCTION Elmer S. Boston, Earlville, 111.

Application July 12, 194.6, Serial No. 683,207

8 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a bracket construction and especially to a novel bracket or support that may be readily attached to or secured upon a post or other upright.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a bracket construction that may be mounted upon posts or other supports and when assembled is adapted to retain or support various devices including insulators, mail boxes, signs, etc., although many other uses will suggest themselves or will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel detachable and adjustable bracket that is self-supporting when mounted upon a fence post or other support and readily lends itself to use upon the substantially T-shaped posts that are commonly used in supporting insulators for an electric fence, mail boxes, signs or wherever a bracket is now employed.

The invention further comprehends a bracket or support that may be readily mounted on and locked in adjusted position, one which will stand hard usage, and which cannot be readily detached by children without the necessary tools for opening and removing the same.

Another important object and advantage of this bracket is that it may be applied to posts or supports that vary in their cross-sectional dimensions as well as on posts or supports that may be provided with ribs, tongues or other projections employed in facilitating the application of wire or other fence material.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred ,embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change, and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the novel bracket applied to a post or other support.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the bracket in open position and showing the manner of applying it to a post or support.

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal cross-section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in side .elevation of a support for a mail box equipped with the novel bracket assembly.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal cross-section taken in a plane represented by the line 5--'5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the support taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, and showing in dotted outline a mail box mounted on the support.

Fig. '7 is a view in rear elevation of one 'form of the bracket shown in Fig. 4 for use in supporting a mail box.

Referring more particularly to the novel embodiment disclosed in the drawing and especially to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, '2 and 3, the bracket 1 "is shown assembled upon a fence post or other support 2 of substantially T-shape in cross-section and including a .face plate 3 and a rearward projection 4.. The :face plate is shown as provided with a longitudinally extending rib 5 having spaced teeth or projections 6 for facilitating the assembly of and for anchoring a wire fence thereto. In this particular embodiment, the bracket is shown as supporting an insulator 1 such as those used upon an electric fence for supporting the charged wire and thereby preventing or dieterring cattle from collecting along and damaging the fence.

The insulator is shown as projecting from and supported upon an inter-mediate or central member or plate 8 joining the hinged members 8 and H] of the bracket. The plate or member 8 is provided with hinge elements II at its opposite sides and has its upper and lower edges l2 and I3 inturned to engage and seat against the outer face of the post or upright upon which the bracket is mounted. These inturned edges are slotted at M. to oonformably receive the longitudinally extending rib 5 on the post and with the sides of the slot inturned or dovetailed in such manner as to bite into the rib and adjacent surface on the post 2.

These hinge elements II are adapted 'to .receive a complementary hinge element 15 and a pin l6, the hinged members 9 and I0 being bent or formed in such manner as to closely overlap the hinge member 9 having an end I! bent at an angle so as to engage over the rearward extension or plate 4 on the post or support, and

3 the hinge member it having an end 88 adapted to closely embrace the member 9 with its lip l8 seating against the adjacent hinge. By reason of the contour of the hinge members 9 and it, closing thereof upon the post or support causes the member H] to closely engage and cam over the member 9 so as to overlap in the position shown in Fig. 3. When so assembled, difficulty is experienced in removing the bracket except by the insertion of a sharp tool between the overlapping end l8 and the adjacent side of the hinge member 9, and prying these members apart.

To insure against accidental or unauthorized removal by children or vandals, a bolt 26 and nut 2| may be employed in looking and retaining the bracket assembled. Such a bolt and/or nut has the added advantage of mounting the bracket upon posts or supports that may vary in their cross-sectional dimensions. These posts are generally not held to close tolerances and therefore vary somewhat in their dimensions. By having a bolt or nut locking the bracket in place, such variation in dimensions is compensated for and it is not necessary to add shims or other means between the bracket and the post or other support. Although I show but one bolt in the drawings, it will be appreciated that another may be employed on the other side of the bracket and adapted to engage or bite into the other corner in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 3.

The insulator i is shown as secured in place by a bolt 22 and nut 23, the bolt having its head seating or countersunk in the rear surface of the web or face plate 3 and projecting longitudinally through the insulator to the front thereof where it is threaded and receives the nut 23. An annular recess 24 adjacent the outer end of the insulator l is adapted to receive and retain the charged wire when wound therein.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 is shown another embodiment and use to which the novel bracket lends itself. In this form of the invention, the bracket forms part of an assembly for supporting a mail box .or the like. The support comprises a longitudinally extending plate 25 having a transverse supporting plate 26 at the front end and a similar transverse supporting plate 21 at the rear end, each suitably secured to the top of the plate 25 as by welding, brazing or the like. This assembly supports a mail box 28 or similar structure with the dependin peripheral flanges 29 of the mail box conformably receiving the supporting plates 25, 26 and 21 and the base of the mail box bolted or otherwise secured thereto.

In order that this supporting assembly for the mail box may be securely held in place, the invention comprehends the novel assembly herein shown including the bracket structure. This supporting structure normally requires two brackets, an upper bracket 39 mounted at the rear of the mail box support and adjacent the top of the post 2, and a lower bracket 3i mounted in spaced relation with the upper bracket upon the post or upright. The upper and lower bracket may be constructed in a manner similar to the bracket I and with the upper bracket suitably secured to the rear of the support assembly, but preferably this bracket is hinged to the assembly. This may be accomplished by extending upwardly or outwardly the central web or plate 32 to provide hinge elements 33 at the upper end in addition to the hinge elements H formed at the opposite sides thereof. A rearward projection or lip 34 which may be formed. or bent from or attached to the plate 32 is provided with a cutout M for the longitudinally extending rib 5, in the same manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The hinge elements 33 are adapted to receive a complementary hinge element 35 which may be an extension of or otherwise secured to the transverse plate 2'5, or it may be welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the longitudinally extending plate 25, it being understood that in plan the support for the mail box, including the plates 25, 2t and M, is substantially I-shape.

Secured to the underside of the plate 25 at its forward end is an angle 3% to which is pivotally secured one end 3'! of a brace arm 38 by means of a bolt nut ill and washer ll. This end 3? may be in the form or an eye through which the bolt passes. The brace arm is preferably made extensible as by telescoping the parts together, and may be in the form of a tubular part 42 and a telescoping rod 62 the latter being held in adjusted position by means of a set screw 44 carried in a collar l5 encompassing the tubular part and with the set screw adapted to project through such tubular part and engage the rod. The end 38 of the rod is also preferably formed into an eye and pivotally carried upon an angle 41 by means of a bolt 38, nut it and washer M, and which is bolted, welded or otherwise secured to the plate 8 of the bracket 3 i. As shown in Fi l, one or more bolts 28 and nuts 2i may be employed for locking the bracket in place upon the post or upright.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing, it will be apparent that the invention comprehends a novel bracket and support assembly for mail boxes, signs, etc. The bracket may likewise be employed for retaining insulators and for many purposes where a bracket is desired that may be readily mounted in rigid or anchored position. Furthermore, although the novel bracket and mail box support is shown as mounted upon a post of substantially T-shape, the present invention is not limited thereto and the hinged members forming the bracket assembly may be contoured so as to encompass posts or other supports of different cross-sections or shapes.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. A bracket comprising a central plate and side plates hingedly mounted thereon, said plates being so constructed and arranged as to encompass a post or other upright and when assembled about the post are securely anchored thereon with one side plate folded over the other for the greater portion of its length and in overlapping contact therewith.

2. A bracket adapted to be mounted upon a fence post or other upright of substantially T- shape in cross-section, comprising a plate adapted to seat upon the face of the post, hinge elements at the opposite ends of the plate, and a pair of hinge members pivotally mounted upon the hinge elements and adapted to encompass the post and with the ends in tight overlapping relation whereby to lock the bracket on the post.

3. A bracket adapted to be mounted upon a post or other support, comprising a central member and a pair of angularly bent side members hinged thereto, the central member conforming to and adapted to be mounted upon the front of the support and the side members adapted to encompass the remainder of the support and having overlapping parts adapted to be folded upon each other and cam into overlapping relation when said side members are moved to closed position.

4. A hinged bracket assembly comprising a central and a pair of hinged side sections adapted to encompass a post or other support when assembled thereon and with the side sections in overlapping relation, said side sections being angularly and similarly formed so as to cam into overlapping relation when moved into closed position with one side section folded over the other in overlapping contact throughout a substantial part of its length.

5. A hinged bracket assembly comprising a central section and a pair of side sections formed to encompass a post or support upon which the bracket is to be mounted, the central section comprising a plate adapted to span the front of the support and said side sections being hinged to the opposite ends of the central section and comprising angularly formed members provided with cam surfaces adapted to closely overlap and retain the bracket in anchored position.

6. A bracket adapted to be mounted upon a fence post or other upright of substantially T- shape in cross-section, comprising a plate adapted to seat upon the face of the post and provided with oppositely disposed hinge elements, inturned flanges provided on said plate engaging the face of the post, a pair of hinge members pivotally mounted upon the hinge elements and angularly bent to encompass the post with the hinge members in overlapping relation, and means for securely connecting said members to prevent their accidental or unauthorized removal.

7. A bracket adapted to be mounted upon a post or other support of substantially T-shape in cross-section, comprising three hinged sections formed to encompass the post and be securely retained thereon with the ends of two of the hinged sections in overlapping relation when assembled, the outer overlapping end being so contoured as to fold over and engage and tightly grip the inner of the overlapping ends when moved into overlapping relation and thereby secure the bracket upon the support.

8. Means for mounting a mail box upon a post of substantially T-shape in cross-section, comprising a support upon which the base of the mail box is secured, a bracket assembly including a hinged plate mounted at the rear of the support and depending therefrom, hinge elements at the opposite sides of the plate, foldable hinge members pivotally mounted on the hinge elements and adapted to encompass and attached to the post, a bracket assembly having foldable hinge members secured upon the post in spaced relation with the first mentioned bracket assembly, and an extensible brace arm having its one end attached to the forward end of the support and its other secured to said second mentioned bracket assembly.

ELMER S. BOSTON.

REFERENCES CITES The following references are of record in the 

